Title: The Global Model Again
This was an original post by WesBurt, here is the quote that caught my eye and led me to order the book, which I am now in the process of reading.
Quote:
Hi folks,
For the past several weeks I have neglected my correspondence, listened to
the hot debates on lists <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> and
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, and surfed the internet in an effort to
refresh my perspective on our progress to date toward a sustainable global
society. It seems to me, that nothing has changed since Hilaire Belloc
declared on page 200 of his 1912 book, THE SERVILE STATE, that only two
solutions to the "capitalist anarchy" were available to us: "a reaction
towards well-divided property, or the reestablishment of servitude." I keep
hoping that the "reaction towards well-divided property" will once again find
a sponser in the U.S.A.
Thomas:
Some thoughts. I have been reading a book called The Ecology of Eden. The author made a case that by the 15th century, European forests were denuded, it's main agricultural lands already in production and most or all of the land (worthwhile) owned. He further argues that the new World of the Americas was necessary to provide relief for the excess population of Europe or the problems of overpopulation would have had to be dealt with. Now, note that this was before the Industrial age and the use of coal, steam, petroleum and electricity which allowed Europe to increase agricultural production considerably over the next 500 years. Given that these ideas have some merit, I find that Hilaire's solution of everyone having a piece of private property to do with as he will, naive thinking in which as population increased holdings would become less and less until a family might inherit land of such small size or productivity that it would not allow them sufficiency.
His second solution, the reestablishment of servitude is becoming, whether by accident or design the solution to "capitalist anarchy". First, the majority of us earn our living through wages, which in a way, makes us wage slaves. Without wages, we are forced onto the social services available which lately in both our respective countries have begun to use WorkFare or some variation to create a form of slavery.
Now, my thinking suggests that a redistribution of income via a Basic Income would solve the problems inherent in both of Hilaire's solutions. He correctly identified the problem but what gives a person freedom is the ability to be self sufficient according to that individual's perceived needs. We don't need land, we need income. Secondly, with a Basic Income, a person is in a position of independance in regards to negotiating with an employer for wages. While now, most of us have to take what is offered - a form of slavery, with an independant income source, we would be able to say yea or nay, if the wages offered did not meet our expectations.
I'm also surprised that the book, written in 1912 did not consider Georges idea of abolishing private property and making property use subject to rent which would provide the necessary income rather than taxes as a solution.
Well, those are my thoughts to date.
Respectfully,
Thomas Lunde
